Evergreen Trees That Tolerate Heat

by Marlene Affeld

Pine trees provide shaded habitat for wildlife and birds.

Many evergreen trees can survive and even thrive in hot locations if heat-tolerant varieties are selected and the trees are correctly maintained. Some heat-tolerant evergreen trees are North American natives. Others are from Australia or the Mediterranean, where they thrive in growing conditions similar to those found in Sunset's Climate Zones 4 to 9 and 14 to 17. When selecting heat-tolerant evergreens to enhance home landscapes, most people think of conifers which exhibit needles that stay green year-round. Many evergreens, however, have broad leaves, not needles.

Pines

Because of the large amount of heat-trapping concrete and asphalt in heavily populated areas, the temperature tends to be 8 to 12 degrees warmer in densely populated areas than rural locations in the same Sunset zone. Heat-loving canary pine trees (Pinus canariensis) are fast-growing pines ideally suited for urban gardens and commercial landscape plantings. Canary pine trees tolerate wind, heat, drought and neglect. Add a living Christmas tree to your landscape. Exhibiting a classic pyramidal form, Japanese black pines and Austrian and Scotch pines (P. nigra, thunbergiana and sylvestris) are drought- and heat-tolerant. These hardy pines are ideal for planting along a fence line or to define landscape features.

Ornamental Evergreens

Native to Taiwan, China and Japan, the evergreen Japanese blueberry tree (Elaeocarpus decipiens) grows 20 to 25 feet tall and presents a 15-foot-wide spread at maturity. Used for privacy screening and large-scale topiaries, the Japanese blueberry adds dark green, leathery year-round foliage and visual interest to home gardens and landscapes. Keep young trees evenly moist. Japanese blueberry trees are quite drought-tolerant once well established. Creeping Junipers (Juniperus horizontalis) add rich, year-round colored bluish-greenery to gardens and landscapes. Creeping junipers are heat- and drought-tolerant and are an excellent ground-cover plant for sloping hillsides.

Redwoods

Fast-growing coastal redwood trees (Sequioa sempervirens) are among the most-planted evergreens in home gardens and commercial landscapes. Coastal redwoods are heat-tolerant but require plenty of moisture. During periods of drought, water weekly.

About the Author

A passionate writer for more than 30 years, Marlene Affeld writes of her love of all things natural. Affeld's passion for the environment inspires her to write informative articles to assist others in living a green lifestyle. She writes for a prominent website as a nature travel writer and contributes articles to other online outlets covering wildlife, travel destinations and the beauty of nature.

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